Photographing the SpaceX Rocket Launch
As a photographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing many moments of natural beauty and human achievement, but there’s something uniquely awe-inspiring about photographing a rocket launch. A few months ago, I had the unforgettable opportunity to witness and document a SpaceX rocket launch from Jetty Park in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The combination of the rocket’s sheer power, the beauty of the Florida coast, and the excitement of the crowd made this one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever captured with my camera.
Jetty Park: The Perfect Spot for Viewing
Located along the eastern coast of Florida, Jetty Park in Cocoa Beach is one of the best places to catch a SpaceX rocket launch. With its prime location just a few miles from Kennedy Space Center, the park offers a perfect vantage point for watching rockets soar into space. The views from the park are stunning: to the east, you have the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west, you can see the vast expanse of the Kennedy Space Center launch pads.
When I arrived at Jetty Park, the excitement in the air was palpable. People from all over had gathered, eager to witness this extraordinary event. Some were there with families, others with cameras in hand, all waiting for that one unforgettable moment when the rocket would blast off into the sky.
Setting Up for the Shot
A rocket launch is a fast-moving event, and the key to capturing it is preparation. As a photographer, I knew I needed to be ready well in advance. The launch schedule had been posted, and I made sure to arrive at least an hour before the scheduled launch time to get settled and set up my gear. With the sun setting and the orange glow of twilight in the air, it was important to account for changing light conditions.
I decided to go with a wide-angle lens (16-35mm) to capture the rocket in the context of the beautiful park surroundings and the ocean. I also brought my 70-200mm lens for more zoomed-in shots of the rocket as it ascended, ensuring I had flexibility in how I framed the shots.
One of the most challenging aspects of photographing a rocket launch is focusing. Since the rocket’s speed is so fast, manual focus can be tricky, especially as it climbs into the sky. To overcome this, I focused on a distant point on the launch pad before the countdown began, so my camera was already locked in for when the rocket launched. I also set my camera to continuous shooting mode (burst mode) to capture multiple frames in rapid succession, which is crucial for fast-moving subjects like rockets.
The Rocket Launch: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Moment
As the countdown began, the anticipation in the air was electric. You could feel the collective breath of the crowd as we all watched the rocket, waiting for that precise moment when it would light up the sky. And then—BOOM! The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket erupted with an incredible burst of light and sound, lifting off into the night sky.
The initial blastoff was a spectacle of bright white light, quickly followed by the exhaust trail that left a glowing streak in the sky. As the rocket ascended, the sunlight hit the engine plume, creating a beautiful display of light, and you could see the rocket’s trajectory against the backdrop of the sky and ocean. I clicked the shutter continuously, trying to capture every stage of the launch—both the ascent and the separation of the rocket’s stages.
The Challenges of Rocket Photography
While rocket launches are visually stunning, they also come with a set of challenges for photographers. The speed of the rocket means you have very little time to get the perfect shot, and the launch is over in a matter of minutes. Here are a few tips that helped me capture the moment:
Use a Tripod – For a stable shot and to avoid any motion blur from long exposures, I kept my camera on a sturdy tripod. The high-speed nature of the launch also made a tripod essential for tracking the rocket as it shot into the sky.
Low ISO, Wide Aperture – To balance light and capture the detail of the rocket without introducing noise, I kept my ISO low (ISO 400-800), even though the scene was darkening. A wide aperture (f/4-f/5.6) helped me gather enough light while keeping the focus sharp.
Continuous Focus and Burst Mode – I used continuous autofocus (AI Servo for Canon or AF-C for Nikon) to maintain focus on the rocket as it moved. In addition, I switched to burst mode, shooting multiple frames in rapid succession to ensure I didn’t miss the perfect moment.
Mind the Background – The beauty of Jetty Park is that it offers a stunning view of the rocket launch with the ocean and the coast in the background. However, it’s easy to forget about the composition with all the excitement of the launch. I made sure to pay attention to framing the rocket within the landscape for a more dynamic image.
Post-Processing the Shots
Once I had the images, it was time to bring them to life in post-processing. The photos I captured had incredible energy, but I wanted to enhance the rocket’s trail, the explosion of light from the launch, and the detail in the smoke plume. In Lightroom, I adjusted the contrast, brightened up the rocket trail, and fine-tuned the shadows and highlights to bring out the intensity of the moment.
One of my favorite shots from the day was a close-up of the rocket mid-ascent with the fiery orange exhaust cloud billowing behind it. The contrast between the dark sky and the glowing rocket made for a powerful image. I also created a few time-lapse edits of the rocket’s progression to capture the full story of its journey.
Final Thoughts: A Memorable Experience
Watching a SpaceX rocket launch from Jetty Park in Cocoa Beach was not just a photo opportunity; it was an awe-inspiring experience. The power of the rocket, the rush of seeing it launch, and the excitement of the crowd all came together in that one fleeting moment. As a photographer, I’m always chasing those moments where everything aligns perfectly—and this was one of those rare instances where the stars aligned, both literally and figuratively.
If you ever find yourself in Cocoa Beach when a rocket is scheduled to launch, I highly recommend heading over to Jetty Park. The view is second to none, and it’s an experience you’ll never forget. Whether you're a photographer or just a space enthusiast, witnessing a rocket launch is something you won’t want to miss.